New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-19
GREETING DR. r. R. MEREDITH.
PLAIN TRUTHS PLEASANTLY RECEIVED.

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cRowprNG rHE roMPKI>s AvENrE coNGREaA'
TIoNAL CHURCH To HEAR THE NEW PASTOR
The Rev. Dr. r. r. Meredith, for twelve years popular
Roson PREACHER began his ministry In Brooklyn yester
day ne the pastor OF the Tompkins Avenue Cohsree"
topal Church When the organ peslcd rorth the sono
what familiar notes OF Old Hundred there was seem
ingy not varant seat In the large church. out dozeus
moro were in the aises The pulpit plaorm was
tastsfnly decorated with foliage and blooming plants
A tho pastor rose and stepped toward the desk the
people saw gentleman OF fine presence apparently less
than nifty years OF ago. with lip and chin clean snaven
sketch Of DIR. Meredith and the church In br"oSPn
together with his for leaving Boston was pub
lished in THE TRIBUNE last week:
DR.. Meredith wore tho conventional black suit OF
his profession and not tho which Is so popular In
the larger churches IL this city In his hand he held his
eyeglasses. wnich be only while reading. He reads
and prays in distinct and impressive manner In Ills
prayer quo ed occasional verses OF Scripture and nov
aud then stanza Of familiar hymn In referring 10
hs new work he prayed that might 10 the beginning OF
ministry that should rebound to the glory OF God aud
the OF In the church and In the city, no mat
ter what became OF himself His text was Brethren,
pray u.s." and the which was delivered with
out manuscript OF kind, was substantially a. follows
Brethren. pray for u.s. Ihe duty and PryiIeges Of
PRAYER are set forth In the Word OF God with great
bower. The exercise Of prayer is iniuItive in man
There 10 place In the Bible where the duty TO pray
rst laid down .ere u" pp, eY presses the re-
atonship between the Creator and his creatures But
There is existing in the world largo degree Of doubt
regarding the efficacy and availability OF prayer thnk
little deeper and little moro Intelligent thought OF
what God Is and what man Is will do much 10 simpny
this exercise. - -, =
First then what IL Godi He Is free, personal splr
tnoi peing in the universe. IL We fully comprehend
this fact with all that 1t involves then seems TO me
thar IL will he the most natural thing III the woriu 10
pour ont the soul to Him IN prayer The more man
knows OF God the more natural and the easier viii Il pc
TO pray TO Him. Our Lori ON his way 10 samara
dropped one OF the deepest and most comprehensive
truths tina. ever fell rSm His divine lips JG im = 4,
spirit aud truth" God is spirit: but how shall get
oorrect appreciation OF The COD who "a spirit ana Is,
therefore. 10 be worshpped In spirit and III ruin Many
ways are given by men to attain tins cnd ono man eis
me to study God In His works do study INN IN tne
universe and everywhere convincing evidences OF
His majesty, wisdom. power and goodness, Out also
mud the limit Of my nvestlha,ions ma am IA
greater id OF what God by study oil HIS WORKS Tran
ny at the base Of H65 o Sss he oa
las revealed Himself to me IN lis Word and IN Ills SON.
TO = knowledge OF God We can only know Ii.n as we
surrender lives to Him anu they are aceePeu ny
Ne know God as we know another; and how is
tnat simply by the stndy OF ourselves know you
only as yon represented In my own CONSEQUENCES
can throrixe about you; believe what is told NE
a5ont YOU but II mental iosyncraces In you
thai are not Ia they lie beyond the hcd oil my know
about God. which means very siinpe tlins- anthr0
hntcS IL Is simply Impossible to think Of Him In any
otier way Try 1t once aud see how far you can get
Ak y.
acror,ijng Ia God II have learned TO forget sell Tor
others. II have the spirit Of rn compassSn' tenaer
ness ami love, have only 10 ft tem r To the innnte
and diyest them OF all limitations; then have true
idea Of God. ,,, A. ,.o, s,.i, ,,., L,ov o,od
How do KIN this I know thai human spirit longs
for communion with other spirits Il has capaitc. Tor
ri. rnioyucpt I can take Guild on my knee. aud l
can pl on that spirit III It's face With sues as
nj " on its humor. can coTd II wlth pity us relate
nnc ',ng incident can cover II VITA horror have
Iai capacity. But this Is not all My dear son leaves
home aud to the FAR West TWO or three thousand
TO nd I'VE I IA n.
and take piece of steel and dip In tack nud and
naSe Hines on piece OF wne paper, rheg ioid
Rper ami make sone more Inns AMI curves on that
hen sen 1oSctee1 f 5r ons lines and curves on
nauor Ilut days afterward In distant mining camp tue
nadcd 10 my boy Why Ia u that no thrnsts II into his
racket turns away the crowd and gets away be-
ind beyond SSS or hs cheeky wt are these lines
aid curyrsi Sly spiit has annbllatri distance and Is
reat pirt has shut Himself avayfron Hts Great
uros us Necessity Of God that lie should converse
with them. tod longs say u WIN teycrch,e ',9u
longs for communion With me- aud lie has Implanted In
desire to communicate VIII ha, ii prarcr. There are
many idea. prevalent on tnIs subject says one wat
n,scirnL WHY importune HIM Why plead with Him
Another man SAYS. God Ia immutablet Eod can lot
other talks about the complete nsigninuanoe of man.
THIS world he says.sOny oneof mJrial ot Worlds. one
re .1 oo5 peopl. on this little planet To day
and that the present population only one OF countless
s% .n 1@ai Ps sSRss
the worlds population you are and th't the great GOD Is
going To sing YOU out and bless you
part OF my purpose TO GO into these question,
am 70 AK Him. iiow them snail pray Him Not
AZ We 40 la ask a-fayor OF ono another IL want
favor you go 10 yon with two objects IN view: uist
10 give me wnst desire But when pray to COL II
inio 40 not se 70 s neese e a
sa IL ny and you will nc blessed. refuse 10 pray ond
YOU will be blessed. G"d Il onnlscrnt He IS in
"A aud necaurr he cnauHrr not,
pra1 viii be blessrd II DO not pray the 3rsslng
reach out and bless u Il grand conception OF God
that lie Is able to ta.e care OF all hat lie has made u
YOU FUN the conditions God Will hear you. aud lie
emit helm H. SNEAK revorcntly. hut SPEAK inte
gently Man insignificant beng Cod only knows
m the created intelligence and capahillty that there IS
In tie world Ia day but he does know, and II tie chose
lie could gather II together that Of men and ANGELS and
lie could put boundary to II and measure ~: ana "
lie did the child horn last uisht would grow to tho
boundary and swell and pass neyond It, and 90 on In
lie highest of this great exercise OF prayer Is
10 great thing to pray for ones SELF
AS we have sung this morning.
PRAYER is u. c.ri..laa's vital breath.
II Is impossible to live Christian life without prayer
rea as il pray for yourself II Is grander thing TO
forget yourself and pray for Others nerresso CRYING
10 Tod for Others Ia the grandest feature OF this exer
else; losing onos self the eagle loses ais eyes IN the
sun Never is the christian -" IKE Christ "a when he
orgets self and pours out bis soul Tor his rellowmen
IA God lights one word with another. so Tie hessrs
Que soul by anotbcr's soul Every man can pray for
himself. bnt every man has the right to pray for
other, In the text Paul says, Brethren. pray for us
Erethrenl What an emnenty appropriate term which
lo,ng itaelf 10 the Christian Church. The lawyers
not losing the word. but se"m tn be getting ashamed
OF IT, But II we Chrstians We have one + Their In |
God one Elder Brother in Christ, and have Home In
prospect IL was therefore. hitting that the Apostle
should call those brethren to whom he addressed his
epistIe The living In Ms sins wouldn't for him.
would lack the sympathy necessary for that eSer
and could not pray for him. because no would have
no right TO do 80.
speak here for the frat time, and wish TO say dis
tnctly that In my opinion, the sinner has no right 10
pray for the salvation OF his children who are growing
up In sin II you think differently try 1t and see how
works. I my boy going down In sin and want God |
10 save him Pcrhsps had praying rather and mother
and decide pray This II my attitudes God, my
boy don't want your forgiveness nor anything else
for myself but want you to save my boy. How does
that sound Yet that Ia the attitude unconsciousy |
assumed by who Ia anxious about his children aud
has not trst asked God TO save him. Fathers and |
nothcrs think Of this But the brethren have right to
pray others they commanded to pray for others
iney are consecrated priests unto Him.
come to you to-day with the single request Breth-
rem, pray for u.s." n Paul needed the prayers OF the
Church. then In Heavens what shall
do here without the united prayers Of the people OF
this church Paul desired two thlngs-spirual wisdom
and the guidance OF the spirit Of God Paul does not